Carousel And Water Don't Mix

But Not Like This!

Above shows part of Drayton Manor Theme Park closed by flooding for a whole week in February 2020.

On the other hand these are bottles of water on offer from Reading Buses ...

... part of a bit of a do in Henley, outside the town hall.

A close up of the bottles' caps may give a clue.

Somebody has stuck neat little blue labels on the bottles' lids. They read "Aqua 28".

Also there for a time was a bus ...

... beautified by a Bearded Beautifier from Shepherds Bush, one Mr Stenning. The bus, incidentally, is a bit of a mystery. It was one of a batch delivered to Stagecoach Sunderland ...

... gas powered and thus well up on the scale of environmental brownie points. Here is the bus in Stagecoach garb ...

... and in service in Sunderland. Here it is again, repainted and promoting Service 28 Aqua at Reading.

So, what;s going on? 

It is possible that readers may recgnise this map ..

... as it is remarkably similar to route 800, just taken over by Carousel buses.

The 800 has a few journeys via Binfield Heath with its clearly marked bus stop.

But then until 28th inst it was operated by Arriva - so there is no bus stop sign and no timetable display.

There, told you. The 0945 from Reading runs via Binfield Heath at 1010.

What fbb does not know is whether Reading Buses started their Aqua 28 as a spoiler for the ailing Arriva or a warning shot across the bows for the more alive and kicking Carousel.

There is good route promotion inside the Aqua bus ...

...with a route reminder as well.

There are high quality leaflets ....

... and, best of all (or worst of all depending on who you are), Reading runs half hourly whilst the 800 is only hourly along the same roads. 

Of course, Carousel does run half hourly between Reading and Henley but via two different routes.

Will GoAhead's Carousel company respond?

Watch this blog!

There is no new network map on Carousel's web site but each route does have an updated timetable and a simple map attached ...

... both hugely better than the poor offerings of the outgoing Arriva.

Good Time In Lyme 

Trips For Chips (2)

fbb plus Mrs fbb took a trip on Axe Valley 378 from Seaton to Lyme Regis on Friday 26th July. The trip was not particularly dramatic in any way, but thoroughly enjoyable and is a good example of the pleasure of simply taking a bus ride. It's cheap (either £2 or, in the aged fbbs' case, free) and you don't have to drive. 

More importantly in  Lyme Regis, you don't have to park!

Axe Bridge

Once a toll bridge but built as part of the project to bring the railway not quite close enough to Seaton.

The toll house and the bridge were constructed in cast concrete, certainly the first road bridge to be so built in England. Here we see old and new looking back towards Seaton itself.

With the opening of the bridge, the former track to Axmouth Harbour became a proper road from which the views of the estuary and the wetlands are glorious. When the tide is out, the views are, well, mud!

Axmouth

Before the bridge the only link across the Axe was by ferry from Axmouth village, once sited here at the foot of Church Street. That's  Axmouth church.

Seaton Church, the alighting point of the ferry, is behind the tree!

Axmouth has two nearly adjoining pubs, both serving good nosh, but the fbbs' favourite the Ship.

Axe Valley's finest now joins the A3052 for the run to Lyme.

Rousdon

The time point is Rousdon "Garage" which hasn't been a true garage for many a short year or so. There is still a car sales lot but no fuel sales or car maintenance facilities. The old showroom has been an "artisan" (aka ludicrously expensive) bakery and now trades as ...

... "Koffie". fbb s not sure what it sells!

If you look VERY carefully to your left (as you speed to Lyme) when passing signs to Ware (Where?) you might be clever enough to see Cannington Viaduct in the misty distance.

It's hard to spot but a visit (on foot or car) is a delight.

It is almost all that remains of the branch line from Axminster to Lyme Regis. The double arched bit is where the viaduct started falling down as they built it, so extra bracing was added - sounds very much like fbb's railway modelling skills!

Lyme Regis

The views as you enter the town are wonderful, but ony feebly photographed.

Two buildings attract the eye as the bus descends steeply into the town. There is Umbrella Cottage ...

... a singularly appropriate name! Then comes Coram's Tower, now assorted flats.

We alight at the Co-op ...

... and stride off down the hill to find Chips.

There will be more on the buses when we come back, replete with unhealthy fried food, from Lyme Regis tomorrow.

The Delights of Journalism

An article appeared recently in an on-line piece from Liverpool.

There is even a picture of a Belfast "Glider" to set the juices flowing.

But reading on, things look a little different.

It appears there are no fixed plans as yet (that catch-al phrase "plans are ongoing") and a Glider bus might be appearing in the next two weeks or it might not, "I think actually there's one coming to the Wirral."

Don't hold you breath Birkenhead!

 Next Red Book blog : Wednesday 31st July 

Saturday Variety

First Cable : First Dangle

It was light blue ... then it went red ...

... as sponsorship was obtained from Emirates and branded as Air Line.

It then went purple with a much lower sponsorship from tech firm IFS. Dangle cars have been red ...

... and are now IFS purple.

But recently, the purple brand has had a refresh at the two stations.

Publicity has a distinct taste of the Bearded Bus Beautifier from the Bush about it!

Every detail is  now brightly purpled!

But the big question still remains. Is it a success?

Financially it appears to be a disaster with ridership being well below what was anticipated. One huge problem is that it is not easy to get at. The London Eye ...

... is very much in evidence on the South Bank whilst the Cable Car is out on a limb and, from a tourist point of view, round by the bins.

Here is an unofficial video asking the question.

But from this weekend there is a major change to the structure of the Cable Car.  The beast is owned by Transport for London (who probably wish they didn't); it is sponsored by IFS. But from this weekend it will be operated by First Group.

Anyone for a Barbie dangle car?

Perhaps not!

Talking of Branding

When London Underground rebranded Bond Street station as Burberry Street most commentators thought ot was a step too far.  The impression given by TfL was that they understood peoples' concerns and would not be doing such a drastic "rebrand" ever again - not ever - no never.

So they've just done another one!

To get us in the mood fbb will introduce his readers to an advert for a mobile everything imaginable

Apparently, you can also make phone calls on it - but they cost extra! fbb did find a short video (most are 20 minutes long) about the Samsung Z fold 6. The video was by an American gentlemen who was so enthusiastic you would think the phone had just saved his life - several times. And, of course he called is the Zee Fold 6!

Hang on to the fact that this phone unfolds to double the size. Mr excitable was keen to stress that it had a strengthened hinge, although as the product is new, it is not clear how he knew.

Now we go to a London Underground station.

Yes, folks, it is a rebranded Old Street on the city branch of the Northern Line.

Some of the station names are untainted by this stupidity as in this picture ...

... which would seem to add to the potential confusion. But a short promotional video does encourage viewers to visit Fold Street, carrying their folding phone. 

Whilst so doing such excited travellers can enjoy more hilarious folded things.

A Street lamp ...

... a bench ...

... and a phone box.

Chortle, chortle!

Hey, fbb has just had another jackpot idea.

Ideal for dangling rides in windy weather!

Beer Brand for Bradford!

Yes, that is a Trans Pennine train on the can. The company has commissioned it own brand of beer.

The mind boggles.

You'll Never Get fbb on One!

Yet another driverless tram, circumnavigating the depot very slowly.

A bit more about this tram.

Hmmmm?

A Puzzle Picture

Where might these palm trees be?

Somewhere on Lothian Buses route 16?

Answer tomorrow.

And more variety tomorrow!

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 28th July